Personnel platform for fork lift



Aug. 20, 1963 .1. L. DANE 3,101,128

PERSONNEL PLATFORM FOR FORK LIFT Filed May 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EEPL 7 a INVENTOR. 746K 4. D/P/VE,

ATTOR/VA') 1963 J. L. DANE 3,101,128

PERSONNEL PLATFORM FOR FORK LIFT Filed May 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INYENTOR.

N 29 ITTOR/Vf '3 101 12s PERSONNEL PLAiFoRM FOR FORK LIFT Jack L. Dane, Plymouth, Mich., assignor to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware p Filed May 31, 1962, Ser. No. 199,194

4 Claims. (Cl. 182-422) This invention relates to platforms for mounting on the lifting forks of a fork lift for elevating personnel United States Pater 3,101,128 Patented Aug. 20, 1963 ice the railings 1d and 114 and is piviotally mounted at its 1 lower edge for swinging about a horizontal axis extending generallyv along the adjacent edge of the platform. Preferably,the frame 17 is carried by a pair of pins 19-49, each pin. extending between a of angles 20-20 arranged back-to-back and r jacent stiffening angle '11.

A pair of sliding'latches 21 are mounted on the frame 17, the latches being spring-pressed axially against plates 012 and 24 mounted on the railings 12 and 14, respectively. Holes 25 in the plates 22 and 24 receive the latches 21 to hold the frame 17 latched either in inwardly specifically constructed for locking to the lifting forks of a forklift to provide a safe and convenient floor for personnel which can be elevated to any height within the lifting limits of the fork lift.

The platform of the present invention is provided with an interlock for engaging behind the heel of the lifting forks to retain the platform on the forks and prevent accidental disengagement. Theplatform is capable of use with conventional lifting forks or fork lifts without any modification of the forks, and provides a positive interlock between the platform and the forks without the necessity of drilling or otherwise weakening the forks.

Among the objects of thepresent invention arev to provide a platform for fork lifts that will inter-fit with conventional lifting forks without modification of the forks, that will make positive locking engagement with the forks, and that is simple and dependable in operation and economic to manufacture.

Other objects, and objects relating to details and economies of construction and use, will be present from the detailed description to follow.

My invention is clearly defined in the appended claims. In the claims, as well as in the description, parts may at times be identified by specific names for clarity and convenience, but such nomenclature is to be understood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the context and with the concept of my invention as distinguished from the pertinent prior art. The best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a personnel platform constructed according to the present invention, the platform being shown at rest upon a floor.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the platform after being elevated by lifting forks of a fork lift.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the manner in which the lifting forks are entered beneath the platform when it is at rest on a floor.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing the platform immediately after it has been lifted from the floor.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 of the platform ready for operation.

Referring now to the drawings, the personnel platform of the present invention has a rectangular sheet metal floor which may be provided with stifiening angles 11 about its periphery. Railings 12 and 14 project upwardly from the angles 11 on two opposite sides of the platform, the railings preferably being formed of sections of pipe. Agate 5 pivotally mounted on the railing 12 extends across a third side of the platform and is provided with a'latch 16 for engaging the railing 14.

The fourth side of the platform is provided with a railing formed of a frame 17 covered with wire mesh 18 and which preferably projects somewhat higher than rotated position, as shown in [FIGURES 1 and 2, or outwardly rotated position, as shown in FIGURE 5.

The underside of the sheet metal floor 10 is provided with elements which may be in the forrn of angles26 mounted back-to-back in spaced relation and, with the base, defining a pair of parallel channels on the underside of the base for receiving the tines of a pair of forks. The angles2 6 project outwardly beyond the edge of thebase below the frame .17 for a short distance as indicated in FIGURE 1. Preferably, a reinforcing plate 27 is welded touthe outer edges of the angles 26.

A plate 29 is welded across the ends of each pair of angles to partially close the ends of the two channel formations formed by the angles. The plate 29 extends only a portion of the distance up towards the bases ofthe angles. The function of the plates 29 will be described in more detail hereinafter.

A pair of swingable supports 30 are pivotally mounted on the underside of the floor 10 the bases '33 of the supports preferably being closer to the edge of the floor beneath the gate 15 than to the opposite edge so that when the platform is resting on the floor or other supporting surface, it will rest on the supports '30 and the projecting ends of the angles 26, as indicated in FIG- URES 1 and 3.

Each support 30 has an upwardly projecting arm 31 'WhICh is connected by a link 32 with. the pivotally mounted frame 17. The linkage is such that when the frame 17 is folded inwardly as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 3, the supports 31} extend downwardly to support the floor 10 at an angle to the supporting surface. When the frame 17 is rotated outwardly into a plane perpendicular to the floor 10, the supports 30 are retracted as indicated on FIGURE 5.

A fork lift 34 is indicated in broken lines in FIG- URES 35. The fork lift 34 has a mast 35 and a pair of spaced lifting forks, one fork 36 being shown. The lifting forks are conventional and have generally horizontally projecting tines, one tine 37 being shown. The height of the support 30, the projection of the angles 26 beyond the edge of the floor 10, and the height of the plates 29 connecting the projecting ends of the angles are such that, with the platform resting on the floor as indicated in FIGURE 3, the tines may be entered horizontally between the edge of the floor v1t and the top of the plates 29, one of the tines of the fork lift being entered between the backs of each pair of angles 26.

Prior to engaging the fork lift with the platform, the frame 17 is rotated inwardly to permit entrance of the mast between the railings 1-2 and '14 as the tines 37 are inserted completely beneath the floor .10; Then, by lifting the forks, the platform will tend to rotate'on the forks about the edge of the floor 10, the floor resting completely on the tines, and the tines lying between the pairs of angles 26 to prevent movement of the platform laterally of the tines. At the same time, as the door 10 moves to level position on the tines, the plate 29* extending across the projecting ends of each pair of angles 26, rises behind the heel 40 of the lifting forks 36 as indicated in mounted on the ad;

.3 FIGURE 4 to prevent the platform from slipping forwardly from the tines. After thus engaging the tines with the platform, the frame 117 may be moved outwardly into latched position, thereby retracting the supports 30 and clearing the floor 110 for use.

To disengage the platform from the lifting forks, the operationmay be reversed. After the platform has been lowered to a position near the ground, the frame 17 is swung inwardly, extending the supports 30. Then, the lifting forks are lowered until the platform is again resting on the supports 30 and the projecting ends of the angles 26. The tines then can be withdrawn from the platform.

The above-described construction provides a personnel platform which is usable with conventional fork lifts without modifying the lifting forks, and at the same time, the platform is positively retained on the forks so that it cannot become dislodged in use.

What is claimed is:

1. A platform for mounting on the lifting forks of a fork lift, said platform having a fiat base, means on the underside of the base forming a pair of parallel elements for receiving the tines of the lifting forks, said elements projecting beyond an edge of the base and each element having a portion adapted to lie behind the heel of a tine to prevent fortuitous disengagement of the platform from thetines, support means projecting downwardly from the base to support the platform with the base inclined at a substantial angle to a supporting surface, said inclination -of the base being sufficient, and said portions being low 4 tine-entering side of the base being swingable inwardly above the platform.

2. A platform for mounting on the lifting forks of a fork lift, said platform having a flat base, means on the underside of the base forming a pair of parallel elements for receiving the tines of the lifting forks, said elements projecting beyond an edge of the base and each element having a portion adapted to lie behind the heel of the tine to prevent fortuitous disengagement of the platform from the tines, support means projecting downwardly from the base to supportthe platform with the base inclined at a substantial angle to a supporting surface, said inclination of the base being sufiioient and portions of the elementsv port means into the genenal plane of the base.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,574,501 OBrien Feb. 23, 1926 2,338,645 James Jan. 4, 1944 2,462,096 Hamilton Feb. 22, 1949 2,610,751 Bevan Sept. 16, 1952 2,707,573 Balwics May 3, 1955 2,820,561 Meagher Jan. 21, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 737,380 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1955 

1. A PLATFORM FOR MOUNTING ON THE LIFTING FORKS OF A FORK LIFT, SAID PLATFORM HAVING A FLAT BASE, MEANS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BASE FORMING A PAIR OF PARALLEL ELEMENTS FOR RECEIVING THE TINES OF THE LIFTING FORKS, SAID ELEMENTS PROJECTING BEYOND AN EDGE OF THE BASE AND EACH ELEMENT HAVING A PORTION ADAPTED TO LIE BEHIND THE HEEL OF A TINE TO PREVENT FORTUITOUS DISENGAGEMENT OF THE PLATFORM FROM THE TINES, SUPPORT MEANS PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE BASE TO SUPPORT THE PLATFORM WITH THE BASE INCLINED AT A SUBSTANTIAL ANGLE TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE, SAID INCLINATION OF THE BASE BEING SUFFICIENT, AND SAID PORTIONS BEING LOW ENOUGH TO PERMIT ENTRANCE AND WITHDRAWAL OF THE TINES FROM THE ELEMENTS WHEN THE PORTION OF THE BASE ABOVE THE FREE ENDS OF THE TINES IS RAISED SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE TINES TO TILT THE BASE, THE PLATFORM HAVING A RAILING ABOUT ITS PERIPHERY AND A SECTION OF THE RAILING ADJACENT THE TINE-ENTERING SIDE OF THE BASE BEING SWINGABLE INWARDLY ABOVE THE PLATFORM. 